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GOP Congressmen Who Begged For Federal Aid In Disasters Striking Home Districts Vote Against Sandy Aid

The first piece of the aid bill to assist victims of Super Storm Sandy passed the House of Representatives today, providing $9.7 billion to fund the National Flood Insurance Program so that claims made by victims who purchased flood insurance from the government program can get their money.

Without the additional funding, the insurance fund was set to run out of cash next week as a result of the high volume of claims resulting from the northeastern storm.

The measure was immediately passed by the Senate and now awaits the President’s signature.

The $9.7 billion—which represents only a small portion of $60 billion pork laden bill passed by the United States Senate—came free of any questionable additions as the money was specifically designated to fund the insurance program so that legitimate claims can be paid— and nothing else.

However, that did not stop 67 Republican members of the House from voting against the legislation while the legislation received 100 percent support from House Democrats.

While it is not particularly remarkable that there would be members of the Republican caucus who would vote against honoring the obligations of the United States government (they are, after all, threatening to disavow debt that we’ve already promised to pay if we don’t do what they say in making budget cuts), what shocks even an old cynic such as myself are those Members who had the extraordinary nerve to cast a ‘no’ vote despite recently pleading for the very same relief when voters in their own districts were under water or picking up the pieces of their lives following a devastating tornado.

Members like Missouri Republican Sam Graves who—just two years ago—begged President Obama for an emergency declaration freeing up big time federal bucks to aid the people in his home district in their hour of need following a severe natural disaster.

And what do you imagine the money was for?

Would you believe it was for damages Graves’ constituents suffered from flooding-the very same problem in New York and New Jersey that today’s House vote was addressing?

Here is what Congressman Graves had to say when it was his neighbors who were under water:

“I urge the President to approve this assistance without delay. Many communities along the river have been stretched to the limit preparing for and fighting this unprecedented flood.”

Yes…he really said that.

And yet, today, the Congressman voted to deny similar aid to the victims of Sandy.

Today, Congressman Broun cast a no vote on a bill created to help out those suffering from flooding in New York and New Jersey.

And then there is Republican Congressman Mo Brooks of Alabama who, in 2011, held town meetings back home to help educate constituents victimized by a devastating tornado as to how to go about getting federal assistance money that his constituents would not have to pay back.

Here is the statement the distinguished gentleman from Alabama issued at that time as a part of his effort to bring people into his town meetings:

“I urge tornado victims to attend these meetings to better understand their federal assistance rights. Some of it is in the form of loans, SBA long term low interest loans but there are also direct grants that you do not have to repay if you qualify, unemployment compensation, rents as you try to find a new place to live.“

Today, Congressman Brooks voted against providing the funding to pay the rightful claims to those who suffered in Sandy.

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I can certainly understand the subject being presented since I live in FL. These reps should not have voted against the first portion of the bill. If you build or live on the coast here in FL you cannot find an insurance co that will insure you. You go into the state insurance pool known as “citizens”. The problem is “citizens” doesn’t have enough money to cover all of the losses if a disaster were to happen.

Here is the way I feel about it. If you choose to build or live on the coast, then you should shoulder a larger portion of the financial responsibility in the event your property is damaged due to a natural disaster.

Our insurance premiums more than doubled after the hurricanes of 2004 and it was in part because of the damages done to homes built on the coast. So, everyone took a hit regardless if they live on the coast or not. This is something that needs to be brought up for future discussion in Congress. Those that choose to have an “ocean view” need to take more of a financial burden than those that live inland and are not affected as much by a tropical cyclone (thats a hurricane for you folks that don’t know the technical term for hurricane).

I agree Lawgone. This is something that Congress could address. I live in Ohio. I have insurance for my house. Why should I have to pay so that people can live along the coast in hurricane-prone areas or in a known floodzone? The flood insurance should be self-paying. If you can’t afford it, maybe you shouldn’t be living there.

As a constituent from Congressman Mo Brooks’ district (and as someone who did NOT vote for him), I am appalled by his actions but I’m not surprised in the least. My sincere apologies to the victims of Hurricane Sandy for the insult and injury in Mr. Brooks ridiculous vote. Many of us in Alabama’s Fifth Congressional district are working hard to replace Mr. Brooks with someone who makes better sense.

Dogs do eat !%@* and these guys are full of it. These are examples of people in power who are such bald-faced hypocrits they should have their tongues tied. I confess I do not understand continuing to re-elect the village idiot who promptly goes to Washington and develops schitzophrenia. Look one way and say one thing and turaround and say the exact opposite facing the back direction. I don’t know how that bunch manages to say to different things out of their mouths at the same time without strangling on their tongue.

Hey..you’re making some serious progress! After two years of not being able to actually write a sentence or using words beyond those you make up, I think this is your second comment where you’ve used actual words! Well done.

Rick’s article wouldn’t be complete without pointing out the biggest hypocrite of all time and here are the facts, it’s Obama:

http://the-american-journal.com/obama-lied-voted-against-aid-for-hurricane-katrina-victims/ In one of the previously unreported and never aired segments of the 2007 video the mainstream media insist we had all seen, then Sen. Barack Obama seemingly Impersonated a stereotypical ‘old wise Negro’ with step-and-fetch it accent (as many describe it) in front of a group of Black ministers, suggesting that race influenced that government’s supposed slow or meager response to Hurricane Katrina, unlike the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Andrew. ”Somehow the people down in New Orleans they don’t care about as much,” Obama said to the crowd, criticizing the government for not waiving the Stafford Act for New Orleans as it had for the disasters in New York and Florida.

Obama as we see now was again less than truthful, the federal government had in fact waived the Stafford Act’s requirement that New Orleans contribute 10 percent toward the cost of reconstruction and cleanup efforts just 10 days before Obama delivered his speech. Not only that — Obama was among 14 senators who voted against the bill.